End of 2015 and a brand new start

It’s almost a week into 2016 and it seems like a little late to be talking about 2015, but you know, I was busy decluttering and by the end of each day, I just wanted to chill and relax. So admittedly, this post is late but I had to write it nevertheless. I love to just recap the key moments of our 2015 as a family while ushering in a new one, so here it is.

Milestones

(1) Last year was a milestone year for our family because my girl started Primary One. Her hair looked kinda funny then because of this incident.

Anyway, it was a whole new routine for us and I started having to wake up really early to prepare breakfast and pack the snack box for her break (check out our breakfast and food for recess ideas if you like). Eventually I stopped waking up early because I realised that my hubby was perfectly capable of providing her breakfast food like bread and milk and you know, stuff that doesn’t need to be cooked, and she’s still in good hands even if she’s not eating a mum-cooked breakfast. That provided much relief for me as I’m hardly a morning person, but I guess this will be the arrangement for now till my boy starts primary school too. We took some time to sort out a routine after she started Primary one but we finally did it after a couple of months.

(2) It also marked the end of my breastfeeding journey after 7 years, and with it, the end of co-sleeping (although it doesn’t always happen that way; it just happened simultaneously for me)

(3) And it also marked the end of homeschooling as hubby decided that it was time to send little boy to formal kindergarten in 2016. We’ll still try to keep up with the Literature-based learning at home after he starts school.

(4) The academic year for my little girl was one that was not just fulfilling in terms of having gained new independence – learning to cope on her own for long hours in school as compared to three hours in kindergarten, making new friends, coping with new academic demands, learning to manage her finances. It was also one that saw her strive hard to do well both as a person as a student, and in the process, she experienced the satisfaction of achievement, and hopefully, remembers the processes that she went through. Apart from being awarded first in the standard for the most number of Chinese books read, she also obtained the model student award for the month for her class, and we ended the year on a sweet note when we saw that she had obtained the Edusave Certificate of Academic Achievement as well.

Family Moments

(1) It was the first time I watched a magic show ‘live’ (Joe Labero) last year and it was a date night with hubby, no less (so thankful for my mum and aunt who always help us out when we want to go for dates!).

(2) We try to visit Universal Studios once each year and we did so in March during the egg-citing Easter celebrations!:

(3) JUNE holidays –

We went for a trip to Genting in June (not on the blog yet), stopping by Malacca on our way back. It was the longest road trip we’ve taken since our last trip there before little boy was born!

We also had a short staycation at Siloso Beach Hotel, during which I think the activities we did far outdid the stay at the hotel. Among the many activities we did during that time, the most memorable were my girl trying out the flying trapeze and the flowrider.

(4) DECEMBER holidays –

We celebrated our ninth wedding anniversary with a staycation at Shangri-la. It was a wonderful stay and I’ll probably put this on the blog since we do have quite a few staycation reviews already.

We finally went for a Royal Caribbean cruise – Mariner of the Seas and it was one of our best holidays! Royal Caribbean read our review of the cruise a few days after I posted it up and even wrote to me!

Our final staycation of the year was at D’Resort near the Christmas period, and though the kids enjoyed themselves tremendously due to the fun they had at Wild Wild Wet, I’d say their fun probably had little to do with D’Resort itself.

We didn’t manage to get the family room because they were fully booked (which at the point of booking, we didn’t know Rainforest meant the HOTEL part of D’Resort), so we stayed at Mangrove and it turned out to be more like a high-class chalet. I’m not sure if I’d really want to blog about our stay there, or whether it’s worth my time and effort to do so.

Anyway, so that was it for 2015 and 2016 has arrived.

With it, is a whole new routine again now that little boy goes to kindergarten. And I finally have an uninterrupted 1.5 hours to myself in between sending one of them to school and picking up the other! I shared a day in my life (2015) and I guess with a new routine this year, I’ll probably do up a 2016 version. With an additional slot of me-time, I think I probably will be able to do more of what I do in my me-time! As it is, I’ve signed up for a Zumba class that fits nicely into that time slot I have, and I have gone to the gym too. I’m still excited about the new routine and figuring out the fine details but I sure hope it’d be a year of many blessings, like it was last year!

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Claymore Connect – the newest spot in town

Going to Orchard Road at least once during the Christmas period is customary for us and we recently checked out Claymore Connect when we were in town. If you didn’t already know, Claymore Connect is actually the refurbished Orchard Hotel Shopping Arcade.

Back with a refreshing new look, it is definitely brighter, spanking new, and offers more experiences, more convenience, more dining options and more for everyone.

They love snow globes and it was just pure joy for them to be photographed in one!

Having a keen interest in martial arts, the duo were thrilled when I told them I’d signed them up for a trial class at Ch’I Life Studio (#03-03/06).

Ch’I Life Studio promotes positive energies for KIDS and ADULTS of all ages by incorporating disciplined training with practical and fun applications, all in a comfortable and positive environment.

They punched, kicked, did balancing activities, learnt some stances and routine by combining some stances. It was an enjoyable experience overall and definitely piqued their interest in martial arts!

They enjoyed themselves tremendously!

While they were busy with their class, hubby and I took the time to pamper ourselves too. Having to stand for long hours as part of his job as a teacher, it was a good time to get a foot massage before the new academic year starts!:

Cavallo Spa, #02-09/10

Cavallo Spa provides a comprehensive treatment menu including their signature deep massage and body scrub with essential organic oils and herbs, providing total relaxation and pure indulgence.

As for myself, I went to And. A Salon (Hair n Nails) (#02-08) to trim my tresses:

The salon offers an extensive menu of services that includes advanced haircuts, multiple colour techniques, hair straightening and digital perm. While waiting for my turn, I had a cup of cappuccino and browsed through the magazines leisurely. Besides the free flow of delectable drinks, I like that they have a locker so when I leave the seat to get my hair washed, I know my valuables are safe.

Neat and tidy after the trim! The massage during the wash was really relaxing!

After we were done with the haircut, massage and martial arts class, we met up and proceeded to have lunch at The Rotisserie (#02-01 & 17). Good planning and time management at a mall that offers something for all of us means we’re all recharged and happy!

The Rotisserie is a no-fuss, quick paced restaurant serving up freshly roasted chicken and other hearty meals at an affordable price.

This self-service restaurant moves like clockwork with a smooth operating system for quick order taking and pick ups.

The environment is comfortable and cosy:

We had quite a spread, and the kids were especially famished after their class.

Top left: Chicken Schnitzel with potato salad and coleslaw ($13); Top right: Fish and chips ($14); Bottom left: Roasted chicken breast with mashed potato, corn and cauliflower cheese ($12.50); Bottom right: Roasted chicken leg with peas, corn and mashed potato ($12.50)

The roasted chicken was tender and flavourful, but the chicken schnitzel was our favourite! Of the four dishes, we favoured the fish and chips least because we found the batter too thick and the flesh not firm and succulent enough. Overall, the portions are big and definitely value for money.

Chocolate brownie ($6/slice); Lemon drizzle cake ($4/slice); Cappuccino and Latte ($5.50 each)

The chocolate brownie was rich and extremely chocolaty, a wonderful choice for chocolate lovers. Also, the brownie itself doesn’t contain nuts besides the one on top, so I could still consume it (I have a nut allergy). The lemon drizzle cake is refreshing with the zesty lemony sauce. I like that the sauce is served on the side so you can do the drizzling yourself and control the exact amount you like. The cake itself is rather ordinary.

After lunch, we proceeded to Cold Storage (#B1-01/10) for our weekly grocery shopping as well as to buy some items for Christmas.

This branch operates from 10am to 10pm, and is well-stocked.

If you live around the area or you are shopping at Orchard, you should really pop by to check out Claymore Connect!

Promotions offered by featured shops

And. A Salon (Hair n Nails): Enjoy 30% off on 2nd service, for hair/scalp treatments only. *Terms and Conditions apply.

Ch’I Life Studio: Receive a $25 gift voucher for any trial class or package, or enjoy a $50 special 1-on-1 private class trial with celebrity trainer, Adrian Tan. *Terms and Conditions apply.

The Rotisserie: $180nett Christmas Feast which includes 1 x Whole Roasted Chicken, 1 x Honey Glazed Ham, 1 x Christmas Fruit Cake (Good for 8-10pax) *Terms and Conditions apply.

For the full directory, click here.

Claymore Connect

442 Orchard Road, S238879
10am – 10pm daily

Directions

Orchard MRT Station (NS22/TE14)

Delfi Orchard
Bus stop no: 091697
Buses: 36, 77, 105, 106, 111, 123, 132, 174, 174e, 502, 502A

Located at Level 1 (Facing Claymore Road)

Disclosure: We were invited to check out Claymore Connect and were provided with shopping credits. No monetary compensation was received. All opinions are 100% mine.

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